Personal Injury
The following descriptions are meant to be only a brief summary of the law in this area. You should never rely upon these descriptions in lieu of legal advice by a licensed attorney.
Generally if you are injured in some way by the negligence or
wrongdoing of another person or corporation, you may have a claim for
personal injuries. Unlike workers' compensation, where you may be
entitled to compensation for simply being injured in the course and
scope of your job, other kinds of personal injury claims require
evidence that the person who caused the injury acted negligently or
intentionally to cause the injury.
- Car Accidents- Although personal injury claims can arise
in a variety of settings, car accidents are by far the most common
way that a person suffers injuries caused by the negligence of
another. Here are some important pointers if you are injured in a
car accident that is not your fault.
- Call the Police-Notifying the police is required by law
if there is serious injury or death, or if the property damage to
one of the vehicles in the wreck exceeds $500.00. However, if you
think there is any possibility that you may have been hurt, it is
very important that you call the police regardless of your
impression of the damage to the vehicles. The accident report
generated by the police is the single most important piece of
evidence that will be used in determining how much you will paid
for your injuries. If you do not call the police and then later
realize that you have been hurt, the information that could have
been gathered from the scene is partially lost.
- Dealing with the Insurance Company- Although their TV
commercials strive to create a different impression, insurance
companies are in business to make money, and the less money they
pay for your injury, the more they have for their bottom line. If
the accident was clearly not your fault, an insurance adjuster
from the at fault driver’s insurance carrier may contact you and
seem very concerned and interested in compensating you for your
injuries as soon as possible. The only incentive an insurance
company has for making a quick settlement is to get rid of your
injury claim as cheaply as possible. They have no interest in
helping you in your time of need. If you do decide to deal with
the insurance company on your own, you should be skeptical of any
advice they give you and proceed with that call. Most firms give a
free consultation, so there is no reason that you should not at
least discuss your case with a trained professional. This website
and others give an overview of the system, but there are hundreds
of variables that can affect your case. That is why it is so
important to talk to someone about your case. If your injuries are
not very severe and you want to do it on your own, we will gladly
talk with you about the specifics of your case and give you some
pointers. The more serious your injuries are, the more you stand
to lose if you try to take on the insurance company on your own.
- Property Damage and Personal Injury Claim- There are two
completely separate components of the compensation to which you
may be entitled if you are involved in car accident. Property
Damage refers to the money to which you are entitled to for the
damage to your car. A personal injury claim refers to the money
you are entitled to for your injuries. These are separate claims
and are usually settled at different times. The property damage
claim can be settled after the cost of repairs, and possible
diminution in value to your car has been determined. The personal
injury claim should not be settled until you have fully recovered
from your injuries.
- Other Injury Claims- In addition to handling dozens of car
accident cases, Ms. Jenkins handled a defective design case
against Ford Motor Company, which yielded a fair and lucrative
settlement for the minor plaintiff who was blinded in one eye due
to a faulty airbag design and insufficient warnings. If you have
been injured or a loved one has been injured in any way, by
negligent medical or nursing home care, or by a defective product
or drug, give us call and we will be happy to discuss with you
whether or not you may have a claim. And if our firm cannot help
you, we refer will you to highly competent attorney who has the
specific kind of training and experience necessary to handle your
claim.
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